Pay attention to how your body reacts to dairy and wheat/flour products. If you feel bloated after ingesting them, you might need to reduce your intake or remove them completely.

Reduce SALT.

Try aromatherapy. Bloating is more likely to appear if you are anxious, stressed, or worried. Try peppermint, orange, rose, cinnamon, and basil. You can also get a stress-relieving or balancing essential oil mix at most health food stores.

What NOT to do when trying to avoid BLOAT!

Don’t Overdo Carbonated Drinks.

The fizz in carbonated drinks (even diet drinks) can cause gas to get caught in your belly.

Instead, drink water flavored with lemon, lime, or cucumber or just reduce the number of fizzy drinks you consume each day. Try peppermint tea for a soothing beverage that may help reduce bloat.

Don’t Overdo Chewing Gum.

Chewing gum can also lead to swallowing air, which can cause bloating.

If you’ve got a gum habit, alternate chewing gum with sucking on a piece of hard candy or eating a healthy, high-fiber snack like fruit, vegetables, or lower-fat popcorn.

Watch Out for Sugar-Free Foods.

Consuming too much sugar alcohol in artificially sweetened foods and drinks can lead to bloating.

Limit Sodium.

Highly processed foods tend to be high in sodium and low in fiber, both of which can contribute to that bloated feeling.

Get in the habit of reading food labels. When buying processed, canned, or frozen foods, shoot for no more than 500 mg of sodium per serving in any product — or a total of 1,500 to 2,300 mg of sodium per day.

Go Slow with Beans and Gassy Vegetables.

If you’re not used to eating beans, they can cause that gassy feeling. So can the cruciferous family of vegetables, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower.

That doesn’t mean you should give up on these super-nutritious, high-fiber vegetables. Just work them into your diet slowly until your body adjusts to the compounds that can initially cause gas.

Eat Smaller Meals More Often

Instead of three big meals per day, try eating smaller meals more often. This can keep you free of the bloat that often follows large meals .Eating more frequently can also help control blood sugar and manage hunger.

I hope these tips help you lead a less bloated life! Summer is around the corner and we want to feel comfortable in those swim suits!

Felicia Romero is a Motivational speaker, inspiring, training and teaching others to live a healthy life. She uses her own experiences to educate and make a difference. She is the Founder of Felicia Romero’s Fit Method.